FILM: Los Angeles Film Festival
June 17-26

The Los Angeles Film Festival is a bastion of independent cinema in the heart of the Hollywood.

The festival has premiered numerous films including "Kissing Jessica Stein," "Dancing at the Blue Iguana" and "Washington Heights".

Close to 200 films will be screened this year, including 83 features representing 31 countries.

Guest director Mira Nair will attend opening night, and present a special screening of films that have inspired her work.

On the program: features, shorts, music videos, free screenings.

For star-gossip lookenpeepers (you know you’re out there), Halle Berry and Samuel Jackson recently signed on as festival celebpresenters. Well, it’s Hollywood territory, after all.

Highlights:
“Invisible Light”
Directed by: Gina Kim
June 22, 23

Korean-born filmmaker Gina Kim's narrative debut is an intense and hypnotic examination of female depression, anxiety, and cultural identity that breaks new ground in the portrayal of Korean women on film.

“Ju-on: The Grudge”
Directed by: Shimizu Takashi
June 24

In a quiet Tokyo neighborhood, there lies a house that may be the most terrifying place on Earth and anyone who enters it is marked with a ghostly curse in this Japanese horror sensation.

“Tunnels”
Directed by: Shaz Bennett
June 20,22
Everybody is afraid of something. Shaz is afraid of tunnels.

Find it: Various venues, including ArcLight Cinerama Dome, John Anson Ford Theatre, Regent Showcase and the DGA. Call for screening locations.
Get info: (866) FILM-FEST

[Visual shown: "Ju-on/The Grudge"]

Find more film festival listings in the June 2004 issue of "Arte Six".